Vanguard Formation (警戒陣) - Event Exclusive
Introduced in Fall 2017 Event for the first time along with the Strike Force mechanic, the vanguard is a defensive formation which affects the ships based on how they are positioned in the fleet.
- Vanguard Formation is available only during event period. However, it is usable on all maps during that period.
| Fleet Halves | Damage Modifier | Evasion Bonus? | Aggro? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy Modifier | |||||||
| Shelling | Torpedo | ASW | Night | Aerial | |||
| Top half | 50% | 100% | 100% | 50% | 100% | ✓ | ✘ |
| 80% | ??? | ??? | ??? | ??? | |||
| Bottom half | 100% | 100% | 60% | 100% | 100% | ✓ | ✓ |
| 125% | ??? | ??? | ??? | ??? | |||
As shown above, vanguard formation has two modifier values divided between the Top half and the Bottom half which split differently depending on the number of ships.
- For 4 (or 5 ships)
- Top half: Position #1-2
- Bottom half: Position #2-4 (and 5)
- For 6 (or 7 ships)
- Top half: Position #1-3
- Bottom half: Position #4-6 (and 7)
Vanguard and Support Expedition
Note that in the scenario that a Shelling Support is used, the Shelling Support will receive a 50% firepower modifier as well when Vanguard is selected.
- This is applied to the whole support fleet, so placing weaker ships at the top will not solve this problem. Therefore, using support expedition when you rely majorly on vanguard formation to survive will not be as efficient however still usable.
When the Vanguard formation is selected, all your ships in the fleet will obtain a post-cap evasion bonus [1]. While everyone in the fleet will gain an evasion bonus, the amount of evasion you gain is based on 2 things:
- Is the ship a DD?
- Is the ship part of the top or the bottom half?
The rough estimates of the evasion bonus are as followed:
- Top half (including the 4th ship)
- Non-DD: +5% Evasion
- DD: +20% Evasion
- Bottom half (excluding the 4th ship)
- Non-DD: +20% Evasion
- DD: +40% Evasion
A test has been done albeit roughly regarding Vanguard Formation's effect on Air Raid nodes. A conclusion was reached as followed [2]:
| Ship Slots | Evasion Bonus? | Aggro? |
|---|---|---|
| First half | ✘ | ✘ |
| Second half | ✘ | ✓ |
While the aggro effect is still there, you do not gain any evasion bonus against airstrikes. In other words, your evasion will be the same as in Diamond formation, except with a worse AA modifier of 110% instead of 160%.
- Your bottom half will suffer the most from airstrikes and you do not have evasion bonuses to compensate for it this time.
Vanguard Formation is position-sensitive. As such, learning how to position is the key in utilizing the formation to its greatest extent:
- Night Battle modifier is not a 100% all-around (Top: 50%, Bottom: 100%) which is unique.
- For nodes where you want to maximize your firepower such as boss nodes, vanguard is generally undesired.
- However, in some situations, using vanguard might be better such as at pre-boss night battle nodes.
- 5-3 Leveling, for example, Node I does not have tough enemies and your night battle power might be able to out-damages the modifier while increasing your evasion to improve survivability. This requires a lot of trial and error.
- Torpedo modifier remains 100% regardless of where the ship is placed in the fleet.
- Ships who rely highly on their torpedo stats such as CLT and especially SS can benefit greatly from this. For example, submarines with vanguard will still maintain the 100% modifier from Line Ahead while benefiting from increased evasion based on position. However, consider placing your higher evasion or armor at the bottom half as they will be targeted more.
- The ASW capable ships benefit the most from the top half while those who damage through shelling and night attacks benefit the most when placed in the bottom half.